The 26-airline alliance’s robust customer-centric vision is encapsulated by a new brand tagline “Together. Better. Connected.” Continued focus on innovations in customer experience, loyalty, and technology. Star Alliance and its 26-member carriers will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the world’s first and leading global airline alliance on Saturday, May 14, 2022. This bold vision was established in 1997 based on a customer value proposition of global reach, worldwide recognition, and seamless service. It continues today by leveraging technology to foster a harmonious experience for customers. “We reflect on the successes of Star Alliance in uniting the leading global airlines, with an eye firmly focused on a future where the customer continues to be at the heart of our work and our global network,” said Jeffrey Goh, CEO of Star Alliance. “I am very excited for the innovations led by Star Alliance and our members carriers as we aim to be the most digitally advanced airline alliance offering seamless travel experiences with a unique loyalty proposition. This year, we look forward to further developments in seamless connectivity — such as new digital and mobile innovations — and exciting industry-first offers that loyal customers of our member carriers will welcome,” Goh added. In conjunction with the anniversary milestone, Star Alliance and its member carriers will release exciting campaigns and customer innovations under the new brand tagline “Together. Better. Connected.” The new brand tagline captures the intent of fostering better human connections through the Star Alliance global network coupled with digital seamless connectivity. “We have defined the way the Earth connects for years, and now more than ever, is the time to enable technology to provide seamless journeys and delight the loyal customers of our member carriers,” Goh said. “I am happy that “Together. Better. Connected.” — our new tagline — reflects that earnestly and is also future-facing. It will motivate us to do better.”<br/>
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United Airlines and its pilots’ labor union have reached an agreement on new contract terms, the first of the major carriers to strike a deal since the start of the Covid pandemic. The crisis roiled the industry and exacerbated a pilot shortage and training backlog. The Air Line Pilots Association and United didn’t disclose the terms of the deal on Friday, but they will likely include higher pay and other improvements. United has had perhaps the least contentious relationship with its pilots’ union of the major carriers and struck early deals during the pandemic to keep aviators on staff and trained. “United Airlines was the only airline to work with our pilots union to reach an agreement during COVID,” CEO Scott Kirby said in a LinkedIn post. “It’s not surprising that we are now the first airline to get an Agreement in Principle for an industry leading new pilot contract.” The agreement still faces a vote by the union and later, by pilots. Delta, Southwest and American Airlines are still in negotiations with pilots unions, which have organized pickets in recent months to protest grueling schedules. United isn’t immune to the pilot shortage. The Chicago-based airline, like other carriers, has had to cut back on routes and park planes because of a shortage of pilots who fly for the smaller regional carriers that feed its network. On Friday at 1 p.m. ET, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., will hold a hearing on the future aviation workforce, which will take place at the United Aviate Academy, United’s new flight school, in Goodyear, Arizona.<br/>
At the end of this month, United Airlines plans to begin “gradually” reintroducing to service its 52 Pratt & Whitney PW4000-powered Boeing 777s that have been grounded since February 2021 following an in-flight engine failure. Chicago-based United said on 13 May that it expects to once again use the aircraft for revenue services from 26 May, pending approval by the FAA. “We can and will return the 777 to service, but we are still working thorough that with the FAA, Boeing, and Pratt & Whitney,” says United’s chief communications officer Josh Earnest. “We are very respectful of the role that the FAA needs to play to…confirm independently that it is safe to return. The current plan is for us to begin flying that on May 26th, but all of that will depend on the individual assessment of the FAA and we continue to work closely with them on that,” he adds. The aircraft have been kept from flying after one example suffered a blade-out in-flight failure near Denver on 20 February 2021.<br/>
Singapore Airlines will continue as the title sponsor of the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix for three more years, starting with this year’s race which will be held from Sep 30 to Oct 2, the airline said Saturday. SIA first signed on as the title sponsor in 2014, and subsequently extended the arrangement in 2018 and 2020 for two years respectively. The new extension will see SIA stay on as the title sponsor of the Singapore Grand Prix until the 2024 race. The race was previously sponsored by Singtel from its inaugural edition in 2008 until 2013. The Singapore Grand Prix is set to return after a two-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A contract for Singapore to host Formula 1 races for another seven years was signed in January this year. This was the fourth contract renewal for Singapore, and the seven-year extension is the longest for the race to date.<br/>